Apparatus and method of lubricating vehicles



1931- B. A. BEAN, JR.. ET AL APPARATUS METHOD OF LUBRICATING VEHICLESFiled Aug. 27, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 24, 1931.

B. A. BEAN, JR, ET AL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF LUBRICATING VEHICLES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27'. 1930 gwuawim Ba mm A fieaumJr. and Ayfihwfi Maddig aw Patented Nov. 24, 1931 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BARTONA. BEAN, JR., OF WILLIAMSVILLE, AND ARTHUR Gr. MADDIGAN, OF BUFFALO,

' NEW YORK APPARATUS AND METHOD OF LUBRICATING VEHICLES Applicationfiled August 27, 1930. Serial No. 478,245.

- occur, at present, at times when the cars have been driven distancesvarying between five hundred and one thousand miles. When a car has beendriven such distance subsequent to ,lubr'cation, it is essential thatall the wearing parts, such as spring shackles, steering mechanism,clutch pedal bearings, and fan bearings, be given anew supply oflubricant if undue wear of these is to be eliminat ed. Automobilegreasing stations and klll dred places where the owner or driver of avehicle usually leaves his car for such service are equipped withgreasing racks and high pressure grease pumps so that large numbers ofcars may be, and are, expeditiously handled. As the income of suchstation is largely dependent upon the number of cars handled there is atendency on the part of the station attendants to service each car asquickly as possible. Because of this, and also because individual makesand models of cars have different numbers and difierently disposedpoints of greasing making it difficult for the attendants to find allsuch points, they are apt to and do overlook certain places on thechassis which should be greased. Even though the attendant be thoroughlyconscientious about his task he may, through inadvertence, unfamiliaritywith the particular car, or because of a psychological reaction due tohaving lubricated several other cars immediately before starting work onthe carat hand, believe that'he has attended to all the required partsof the vehicle when in reality he has not, with the result that the Aneglected parts may wear unduly in subse qulent operation with harmfuland costly resu ts.

It has been proposed to overcome this unsatisfactory condition byproviding attendants with charts containing diagrams, of substantiallyall makes and models of motor vehicles, which indicate the variouspoints about the chassis thereof which should be greased. Such charts doenable the attendant to ascertain which parts of the car require hisattention but they do not in any way insure against his inadvertently,or for a psychological reason, overlooking certain of these parts afterhe has ascertained their positions. The present invention comprehendsmeans whereby the attendant is reminded of each individual lubricationpoint and to means whereby he may check the greasing operation, thusassuring to himself and the car owner or driver that a thorough andcomplete service has been rendered.

These means include charts such as those above referred to which containinformation as to the number of greasing points on the particular car tobe serviced and signal tags, adapted to be fitted to the requiredlubrication points, and means for dispensing the number of such tagsthat are required, which number is indicated by the chart means. Uponreceiving any particular model and make of car to be serviced, theattendant may consult the chart, appertaining to the car, and beapprised of the number of lubrication points thereon. He may then securethis certain number of tags from the dispensing apparatus and alfix themto the proper points on the car, referring, if necessary, to the chartto determine the positions of these points. Means are provided on thesignals which adapt them to be suspended from c0nventional greasefittings, and when all the signals have been applied, the attendant isassured that all greasing points have been tagged or marked, since thenumber of signal tags dispensed is exactly equal to the number of placesto be greased. The attendant may now procoed with the actual greasing,removing each signal as the fitting or lubrication point is serviced,the tags,being conspicuous in color r 5 is a detailed end of theapparatus illustrated 111 Fig. 1, and

- showi-n Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of dispensingapparatus with the tags appended and the charts suspended in anae Vcessible position adjacent thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section 'tatkentrans versely through the apparatusshown in Fig.1-

and depicting in elevation an appended tag;

Fig. 3 is View similar .to Fig. Qshowing a modified form of tag; 7 I g aperspect veview of a fragmen- .taryportion of amotor vehicle, equipped.20

with-a grease fitting, to which asignal is attached I 1% perspectiveview ofono showii-ngkmeans. associated, therewith for cou-nt ngorcheclnngthe number of times the dispensing {device has been actuatedto dis :pense s gnal tags;-

-Fig. 6 is i -{perspective similar to Fig. 1, g a modifieddispensingmechanism and the associated tagsgand Figs, TandB are enlargedverticahtra-n verse sectional ie'w-s taken'through-the mechanismofFlg.;6-ill1d depicting the latter .dlfi erentphaseso-f actuation. I

-As. shown in Fig.. 1',;the apparatus com prises adispensingmechanism10, aplurality of tags 11, anda number of charts 12 each 'containing'dlagramsand other indicia relat ing'to the number and locations orpositions oft-he greasing pointsor fittings on the particular car towhich it relates, there belng one ,chart 112. foreach current'make andmodel of automotivevehicle: The charts-are preferably suspended to wireloops 13 attached to: backingbeard 14 which-may bemounted to the wallfle-or other suitable support adj acent to the mechanism 10, in such aman- .ner that any one of the various charts may be quickly I andconveniently consulted. The tags or si nals 11 may each comprlse asshown in Fig. 2-, a springmetal wire clip 16 having a relatively largeloop 1'? extending through an apertured signalplate 18, which may be of1 a bright color so as to be readily conspicuous. The'aperturesare ofsuch size that substantially "universal",movement, is afforded betweenthe signal member 18 and the'clip 16 "so that the signaltag may beattachedto any grease fitting on any chassis. Thenpper ends 19of'theclip 16 are formed to provide op- "pose'd substantially "semi-circularclamping ')ortions,fthe ends being held substantially Closed at theirends 19, and neck portions 2 1, oryportions between the ends '19 andloo'ps'l? by the spring tension of the latter portions. I

right-thereof.

The tips of the clampportions 19 are bent divergingly outward at 22- sothat the portions 19 may be spread apart by'the camming action of: thetips upon pushing the clips into engagement with objects havingapproximately equal diameters. In Fig. 1 a tag 16 is'shown as attachedto-a conventional grease fitting 23, which is threaded into a shacklebolt which connects the automobile frame "and spring-members designatedat 24 and25 respectively, the resilience of the clip being such as topermit it to be pressed upon or pulled"Tl rom'the fitting'QS" withslight pressure.

' The modified'clip 25shown in Fig. 8 comprises a loo-p.26 forengaging'the plate 18, a twisted shank 2-7 oilany desired' length, andclampingendportionsQS withdiverging tips 29. Thejtwisted shank "27provides rigidity and a good gripping surface on the clip 25:

enabling it to be readily attached to fittings, similar-tothat shown at23, which are located-in relatively inaccessible positionsabout thechassis. The clips 16 and 25, being formed-ct light spring wire, willnot inter--- fere with the attachment of grease guns or other devices tothe grease fitting.

Thertags when not in use are mounted upon the (l-1836118111 mechanism10' W-l11Cl1 1n the formshown, includes ajba-r 30,h'aving notches- 31,corresponding or exceeding in number the maXinnnnnumber ot greasingpoints. designated on any one of the charts 12, the notches being spacedby upwardly extending l'ugs'32.- The bar 30isa1lixed to the wall 15, g

,orother'suitable support by means of rearwardl-yentendingarms 33provided with attaching-flanges 3 1. One tag 11 fitted over the bar atthe point of each recess or notch --31,by pressing the clipportionthereof upw'ardly into-clamping engagement Wll3l1 'til9 .bar, asshown in Figs. 1, Qand 3, so that a :iuimber o1 tags-corresponding tothe number of notches 31 will be held in laterallyspaced relation bythelngsi-BQ. These lugs mayhavo :1.

numerals 35, reading from right to left of Fi *1 as 1 2.3 l-andsoon thenumerals in- 2 7 7 7 I dicating the number 01' tags suspendedto the Anenlar ed extending recess 371s secured to the end of the bar 30 havlngthe lug .82 of lowest numerical value, which .istheright end as viewedin Fig. 1, and a counting mechanism 38, of conventional construction andprovided with aretractable latchor locking bar 3 9,issecared to theplate 361 as shown in Fig. 5. The outer end of thelatcli bar 39 has abeveled cam su ace so 'thatmlownward movement of any olnect.infengagement with the bar will produce an inwardimovement' of the barwhich'willin turnefi'ectthe registry of'each :sueh movement inthe-counting unit38. V The latte "ged "at .211 and provided with a loc k42,-so

1' may be provided, with a cover 38,

.plate 36 havinga vertically total contained therein only by anauthorized I person having a key fitting the lock.

An operating rod or foil 43 of length substantially equal to that of thebar 30, and diameter slightly smaller thanthe width of the recess 37 inthe plate 36, is provided at one end with a'hook portion 44 and at theopposite end with a handle 45. The foil may be inserted through thenotch 37 and through the loops 17 of the tags 11, and may be moveddownwardly to remove from the rack all the tags through which itextends. Since the retractable latch 39 normally extends substantiallyacross the notch 37, it must be moved inwardly to actuate the counter 38upon: each downward movement of the foil 43. It will be understood thatthe foil may be actuated to remove any required number of tags. from therack by moving the hooked end 44 thereof to a position beneath the lug32 bearing the numeral designating such required number, and by thenpressing the foil downwardly, releasing and collecting on the toil allthe tags to the right of the particular lug 32. Since the plate 36 is ofsufficient size to preclude insertion of the foil through the loops 17of the tags, without passing it through the recess 37, each tagreleasing movement of the foil must of necessity be registered by thecounting'mechanism 38. In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is shown a modifieddispensing mechanism having an elongated metal rack 40 comprising a onepiece member having a lower tubular portion 41 pro vided with a lowerlongitudinal slot 42 and upwardly extending lugs 43 defining spacednotches 44, the lugs bearing'numerals 45 indicative of the number ofnotches to the right thereof. The rack is designed to suspend tags 11,as shown, which are clipped over the tubular portion 41 adjacent to thenotches, being spaced by the lugs 43, and the rack is supported at each,end by a suitable bracket 46. A U-shaped foil 47, comprising an upperarm 48 of elongated cross-section, a lower arm 49 of length equal toarm-48, and a handle 50, is adapted to'cooperate with the rack 40, theupper arm 48 being slidable in the hollow interior thereof and the lowerarm is adapted to pass through the loops or rings 17 of the tags 11suspended from the rack.

Thearm 48 is of width slightly smaller than the inside diameter ofthetubular portion 41 of the bar but greater than the Width of the slot 42while the thickness or the other crosssectional dimension of the arm isless than the width of the slot, so that normally the arm is heldagainst downward movement by engagement with the rack 40, as shown inFig.

7, but may, by angular movement of the handle 50 to a-position asdepicted'in Fig. 8,

foil 47 may be adjusted longitudinally of the rack to positions in whichthe arm 49 passes through any desired number of tag loops 16, thisnumber being indicated by numerals placed on a scale 51 provided on asurface of the upper arm 48 which is held in the position within thetubular rack shown in Fig. 8. The foil is then partially rotated andmoved downwardly, the arm 49 carrying therewith the desired number oftags, while the remaining tags are held in place upon the rack 40.

It will be understood that the scale 51 is so arranged that when, forexample, the numeral appears thereon lmmedlately ad a-" cent to theright end of the rack, the opposite end of the foil arm 49 will beimmediately below the lug bearing the number 70, and that should thefoil be disengaged from the rack 70 tags would be removed. It will alsobe understood that if it is desired, the disensin mechanism shown in Fi6 ma be fitted with a counter similar to that shown in Fig. 5, to recordthe number of times the foil 47 is released. may comprise symbols ornames of particular makes or models of cars employing the number ofgrease fittings corresponding to the number of signal tags indicated bythe position of such indicia, rather than numer adjusted to that number,and the required number of tags 11 are removed with the foil and takento the vehicle, where the tags may be removed one by one from the foiland placed on the lubricating fittings aboutthe chassis. When all thetags have been so placed, the station attendant is assured that allproper places for greasing have been located and he may proceed with theactuallubricating operation. If, however, all the places can not befound, as evinced by one or more tags remaining on the foil, theattendant may consult the chart 12 to determine where the additional tagor tags shall be positioned.

As each fitting 23 is filled with grease or oil, the tag aflixed to itis removed and replaced on the foil. The tags, being preferably ofbright color, will attract the attendant so that he will be able toproceed rapidly with the greasing, without losing time in hunting orsearching for the fittings, and there will be little likelihood ofoverlooking any fitting. Further, since the tag on each fitting isremoved at the time of greasing,

The indicia 35, 45 or 51- there will be no time wasted by repetition ofioperation. When thetags are removed from the avehiclevfittings and arereplaced on the .,:f oil,;theymaybe returned to-the rack, Where'if-desiredjan additional check may behad to @determine if allthe tagshave been removed from athe vehicle, thereby insuring that thelubricating job has been completed as to 7 every :fitting. I

- It-will thus-be understood, that the present {invention providesasimple and positive method and apparatus for accurately checktus-maybemade Within the scope of the in-' 'zvcntion, vthat, for example. din

ing an automobile grease job, the devices be- ,lng applicable to any andall/makes and models ofvehicleswhich maybe prcsentedfor serv1c ng.ltWlll further be understood that various changes in both method andapparaerent persons may be employed to conduct various'phases of theoperation, that apparatusvmay be modified'to check-the greasingof oneparticular 2(3ltlSS of vehicle's,-andthat accordingly it is intendedthat the invention shall be SUIltGWitll the scope oi theappended claims.7:3

Hillel!- WVhat is claim'ed'is z 1. Apparatus for checking amotorvehiclegrease Job comprising, a plurality oftags adapted to-be attached toPOZUtS'Of lubrrcation onaa vehicle chassis, means for indicatleasablyretaii'iing the plurality of t ;means:for removingfroin'the reta ninmeans ingthe number ot' such points to be'lubricated on a particularvehicle, emails for regs, and

a number of the etags correspondin to the 7= 3:{lllllllbQIVOff-POlDlJSlIltliCfllEQd by the indicating means, whereby upon attachment oithe'rc- IIIOVQd'ilEIQS to the points of lubrication all the "lubricationpoints Will be visibly indieated. I v a2. Apparatus forcheckinglubricating op- 'erations on a vehicle,- having a numberiotpointsthereon to belubr'icated, comprising-a "pluralityot tags,ineans onsaid tags for atttachingthe same to the points-to be lubricated,support-means for releasably retaining the plurality ofitags, means forindicating the number of tags onv'said support, and means *ttorselectively withdrawing from said sup- 7 port a set of tagscorresponding in number.

:tothe numberof points to be lub *ieated.

'3. Apparatus for checking lubricating operations 'on a vehicle having anumber of points to be lubricated, said apparatus comprising a holder, aplurality of =attach ling-meansremovably connecting said tags to saidholder at spaced intervals there'along, and means associated withrtheholder to denote'progressively the number ottags on said -=s11.:pport,'said attaching means being shaped to receive the'greaseffitting's-otsuch vehicle "to secure the tags thereon 4;.Means for .rele asablvattaching a signal :to alvehiclelubricating-fittingcomprising a Wirehaving its central portion formed in a 2100p, ithe portions. adjacentsaid loop being twisted to provide arigid shank, and the end portionofsaidwire being formed to provide resilient clamping means forattachment to the vehiclelubrieating fitting. i

-5. Apparatusfor use With signal tags'havingloop portions and resilientclamp .portions, said apparatus comprising a rack having spacedrecesses.,-'defining lugs thereon, the clamp portion of said tagsengaging said rack bar adjacent to the recesses-thereon, toil meansremovably engagingsaid rackand-adjustable therealong for passing throughthe loop portions of varying numbers of said tags, whereby apredetermined number of said tags maybe released from saidrack byremovaloi": said foilmeans.

6. Apparatus for checking a vehicle grease ob, comprising signal tagshaving loop poi-'- tions and resilient clamp portions for releasablyengaging the vehiclegrease fittings, a rack having indicia bear ng lugsdefining recesses thereon, said rack releasably receiving the, clampportions of said tagsa at the re ceased portions thereof, foil meansremovably held in movable relationto said rack for engaging thevloopjportions of various rack.

1 "7. Ap-paratus for-checking a vehiclegrease job, comprising signaltags-having loop portions and resilient-clamp portions for engaging thevehicle grease fittings, a rack having lugs defining recessestherealong, the clamp portions-of said tags lengaging'said rack at saidrecesses, andfoil means comprising an arm adapted to'removably engagesaid rack for relative sliding anovement therealong and another arm forpassing through the loops of a varying'number of said tags, said foilmeans havingindicia thereon ::to indicate the number of tag' loopspassedby said another arm, whereby a predetermined number of tags may bereleased from said 1 rack by --movement. of said-foil means along,

and removal thereof said rack. e 1 1 V, r

r i 8; A .method of V lubricating avehicle having' a predeterminednumberof points there- 'on to be lubricated, com-prising. afli-Xing aiii-om engagement with,

phuality ofmembers corresponding i n number toisaid number of gointsuponthe vehicle at said points to visi ly indicate all of the points vfrofbe lubricated, lubricating each of said points, and removing l members'cne .by'one as said points are lubr cated, whereupon ,re noval of .all,of: said members, ;W1ll

visibly indicate that all of said points have been lubricated.

9. The method of lubricating a vehicle having a certain number offittings which consists of predetermining the number of fittings on theparticular vehicle to be greased, securing a plurality of signal tagscorresponding in number to said predetermined number, attaching one ofsaid signal tags to each of said fittings, applying lubricant to each ofsaid fittings, and removing said sig nal tags after said fittings havebeen lubric'ated.

BARTON A. BEAN, JR. ARTHUR G. MADDIGAN.

